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Topic: Questions about Holy Unction (Read 1444 times)

Does one need to have recently given confession or anything in order to participate in Holy Unction? I've been away from the Church for most of Lent and was off looking after my sick mom recently, but I am back and trying to be steadfast for Holy Week. I haven't confessed or communed in nearly two months, though. Can I still be anointed during the Great Wednesday service?

Thanks in advance.

« Last Edit: April 19, 2011, 09:51:57 PM by stavros_388 »

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"This is the cross - to become dead to the whole world, to suffer sorrows, temptations and other passions of Christ; in bearing this cross with complete patience, we imitate Christ's passion and thus glorify our God the Father as His sons in grace and co-heirs of Christ." --St. Symeon the New Theologian

Besides, you didn't attend Lenten services because you were lazy, but, because you were doing what God would have wanted you to - caring for your parent.

I can't imagine the priest denying you Holy Unction.

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Conquer evil men by your gentle kindness, and make zealous men wonder at your goodness. Put the lover of legality to shame by your compassion. With the afflicted be afflicted in mind. Love all men, but keep distant from all men.—St. Isaac of Syria

No confession required, where I come from. Actually they do "mass unction" every week here (I'm back home right now, for Easter) during Lent and then on Good Friday, since it's a very lucrative service. You make money out of it like out of few other sacraments/sacramentals.

Of course, it would be ideal if you could go to confession beforehand since you have been away for such a time. But as to whether it is required, you would have to ask the priest in whatever church you plan to attend Unction, since practices and "requirements" may differ by parish or jurisdiction.

I often hear people (wrongly) say that it's a substitute for confession. "Go get annointed on Wednesday and you can take Communion on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday without confessing". Although wrong, I don't think such a misconception could have developed among certain laypeople if confession was a prerequisite to being annointed.

I do not see why confession would be required. Over here, even the Hungarians (who are not orthodox, of course) come and are anointed at the Unction service.

Unction is a mystery of the Church and should not be administered to non-Orthodox. In churches where Confession is required before Communion (whether on a 1:1 basis or a minimum once per month confession for those communing weekly), Confession would be expected before Unction in a similar way as Confession before Communion would be required in that parish. In parishes where people commune weekly and are not required to confess, they will likely be able to receive Unction as well without confession.

I do not see why confession would be required. Over here, even the Hungarians (who are not orthodox, of course) come and are anointed at the Unction service.

Unction is a mystery of the Church and should not be administered to non-Orthodox. In churches where Confession is required before Communion (whether on a 1:1 basis or a minimum once per month confession for those communing weekly), Confession would be expected before Unction in a similar way as Confession before Communion would be required in that parish. In parishes where people commune weekly and are not required to confess, they will likely be able to receive Unction as well without confession.

Well they do require confession before every reception of the communion, yet they do not require it for unction.

I do not see why confession would be required. Over here, even the Hungarians (who are not orthodox, of course) come and are anointed at the Unction service.

Are you sure they were anointed with chrism? I know in some parishes, during a mass unction service, the priest will anoint non-Orthodox with oil from the vigil lamp at a saint's relics or myrhh from a weeping icon, but NOT chrism.

Are you sure they were anointed with chrism? I know in some parishes, during a mass unction service, the priest will anoint non-Orthodox with oil from the vigil lamp at a saint's relics or myrhh from a weeping icon, but NOT chrism.

But if there are hundreds of people coming up, do you think the priest is giving each a pop-quiz?

No, Unction is a free-for-all thing back home, just like communion is here in America in some churches. Not that is bad.It brings in money too, as you are expected to tip three times or so, during the service, if memory serves me right.

No, Unction is a free-for-all thing back home, just like communion is here in America in some churches. Not that is bad.It brings in money too, as you are expected to tip three times or so, during the service, if memory serves me right.

Do people leave money after confession in Romania as well? I know the Russians do.

No, Unction is a free-for-all thing back home, just like communion is here in America in some churches. Not that is bad.It brings in money too, as you are expected to tip three times or so, during the service, if memory serves me right.

Do people leave money after confession in Romania as well? I know the Russians do.

In my home town they didn't, but i've seen it done some other places like the metropolitan cathedral of Timisoara.